Leeds Bradford: Airport Security, Immigration & Border Control

[Aviador]

I am really not surprised. For anybody who isn't aware, I used to do this job at LBA.

When I started I worked for Air Security who were OK.

Winthin weeks of starting Securitas took over who were great. Nice uniform, decent payrise and they basically told the airport they needed to pay more to keep staff. The airport funded a small retention bonus and the company put us on a decent 4 on 4 off shift pattern which gave you a decent work life balance.

A couple of years or so later the airport changed contactors to G4S who were pretty poor and who started to dismantle the work Securitas had done to improve conditions.

Eventually in a race to the bottom Omniserv, part of Air Serv Corp took over who were truly shocking. They brought in a 6 on 3 off shift patern which made everyone constantly tired. They made numerous contractual changes which resulted in real term pay reducing to bellow what I earnt when I started at the airport several years earlier at which point I left the company.

The airport brought security in-house. My contacts say the conditions are no better now than what they were previously. Apparently working with 4 on 2 off shift paturns on poor contracts along with working in extremely poor conditions of which we are all familiar with.

So whether they applied knowing that or not is really besides the point. The chances are they didn't know how bad it was until they started.

I remember under the former owners Bridgepoint the then security firm G4S advertised the role as "hours to suit your lifestyle", the first shift after training commenced at 03:30 in the morning. No wonder they nearly all resigned after about a week.

Similarly to aircraft handling, airport security is going to struggle without paying more to improve the abysmal hours and conditions. Ultimately the customer will need to pay more.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

Similarly to aircraft handling, airport security is going to struggle without paying more to improve the abysmal hours and conditions. Ultimately the customer will need to pay more.

The customer been the airline. Which in turn is the actual fair paying passenger.

 

[LBA4EVER]

What gets me is many in certain industries are taking strike action demanding more pay due in part to high inflation with finances becoming tighter yet the government is paying out 5million a day to the endless immigrants crossing the english channel invading our country, a 5 star lifestyle in hotels from what i hear!
It really is diabolical!

 

[Aviador]

It doesn't make it right but other airports made equally bad contractual changes, notedly Manchester Airport where security staff went from being the best paid in the industry to minimum wage. Soon after the investigatory TV program Dispatches undercoverred huge failings when a whistle-blower filmed undercover for the programme.

 

[White Heather]

According to one news item, which quotes Vincent Hodder, the proposed strike action affects only 25% of the security staff. I assume those who have been there longest. Not sure why that would be. Perhaps the new recruits are not in GMB?
However he does commit to negotiating to prevent an unnecessary strike. Reading between the lines, this is about the GMB being p*****d off that the airport introduced performance related bonuses without including them in negotiations, a surefire way to rile a union. They want the bonuses scrapped and a much higher basic wage.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I am really not surprised. For anybody who isn't aware, I used to do this job at LBA.

When I started I worked for Air Security who were OK.

Winthin weeks of starting Securitas took over who were great. Nice uniform, decent payrise and they basically told the airport they needed to pay more to keep staff. The airport funded a small retention bonus and the company put us on a decent 4 on 4 off shift pattern which gave you a decent work life balance.

A couple of years or so later the airport changed contactors to G4S who were pretty poor and who started to dismantle the work Securitas had done to improve conditions.

Eventually in a race to the bottom Omniserv, part of Air Serv Corp took over who were truly shocking. They brought in a 6 on 3 off shift patern which made everyone constantly tired. They made numerous contractual changes which resulted in real term pay reducing to bellow what I earnt when I started at the airport several years earlier at which point I left the company.

The airport brought security in-house. My contacts say the conditions are no better now than what they were previously. Apparently working with 4 on 2 off shift paturns on poor contracts along with working in extremely poor conditions of which we are all familiar with.

So whether they applied knowing that or not is really besides the point. The chances are they didn't know how bad it was until they started.

I remember under the former owners Bridgepoint the then security firm G4S advertised the role as "hours to suit your lifestyle", the first shift after training commenced at 03:30 in the morning. No wonder they nearly all resigned after about a week.

Similarly to aircraft handling, airport security is going to struggle without paying more to improve the abysmal hours and conditions. Ultimately the customer will need to pay more.

One of our neighbours worked in security before Covid. He said they were very relaxed. He advised them what shifts he wanted to work the week before and they slotted him in. He only ever worked day shifts and then just a couple of days a week. Clearly not a full time employee but maybe this is what they were thinking of when they meant by "hours to suit your lifestyle"

 

[Aviador]

According to one news item, which quotes Vincent Hodder, the proposed strike action affects only 25% of the security staff. I assume those who have been there longest. Not sure why that would be. Perhaps the new recruits are not in GMB?
However he does commit to negotiating to prevent an unnecessary strike. Reading between the lines, this is about the GMB being p*****d off that the airport introduced performance related bonuses without including them in negotiations, a surefire way to rile a union. They want the bonuses scrapped and a much higher basic wage.

When I was there only a small number of employees were in the GMB union. My experience was the union wasn't very good so it would take a lot of failed negotiations before they would decide to take it to this stage. I can't imagine how you can get a performance related incentive on something which is strictly governed externally by the CAA/DfT

 

[White Heather]

When I was there only a small number of employees were in the GMB union. My experience was the union wasn't very good so it would take a lot of failed negotiations before they would decide to take it to this stage. I can't imagine how you can get a performance related incentive on something which is strictly governed externally by the CAA/DfT

Just by turning up for work might help! A lot didn't and it caused all sorts of problems. That's probably why they have now over recruited so there are always staff available to cover those that have gone AWOL.

 

[Aviador]

Just by turning up for work might help! A lot didn't and it caused all sorts of problems. That's probably why they have now over recruited so there are always staff available to cover those that have gone AWOL.

Well we can only take the airport management's say so on this but security at airports has always been done in a regimental way I find it hard to believe people went AWOL if that's what the airport are saying.

Throughout my time there, working under 4 different companies the job was generally well structured with various points stationed throughout the airport. There was talk of separating the hold baggage screening from passenger screening and I don't know if this was ever done. I would hope not because the variation and the chance to move out of passenger screening was always seen as a welcomed "break" away from the sultry conditions working in the CSZ and away from some of the constant bombardment of covert and overt testing done by various outside contractors carrying inert versions of IEDs and other devices.

For all the reasons we discuss the need for better facilities for passengers, we often forget the workers who share the distress and discomfort of the terminal on a daily basis.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Havent heard any news reference the strike.

 

[White Heather]

Havent heard any news reference the strike.

It's in the YEP today. LBA have made a revised pay offer which is now being considered with a ballot due as to whether to accept it or reject it, and if they reject, then there could well be the strike as threatened. Three days from 24th.

It appears LBA have now installed large screens in the queuing areas which advise passengers of the total waiting time to clear security with seperate times shown for standard security and fast track.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

It's in the YEP today. LBA have made a revised pay offer which is now being considered with a ballot due as to whether to accept it or reject it, and if they reject, then there could well be the strike as threatened. Three days from 24th.

It appears LBA have now installed large screens in the queuing areas which advise passengers of the total waiting time to clear security with seperate times shown for standard security and fast track.

Thanks, I hope it gets sorted. My sons taking his 2 young children to Kos on the 25th and its an early morning flight. Wont be much fun for them in an extended queue.

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

For all the reasons we discuss the need for better facilities for passengers, we often forget the workers who share the distress and discomfort of the terminal on a daily basis.

Everyone who works up at that airport deserves a gold medal. I did under different guises and different companies (Retail, catering then non) and airline so my fair share. Always found it painful working at the airport in terms of trying to get stuff done.

Certain, shall we call them characters, in security made the job impossible at times with their heavy handed power crazed personalities. No one deserves to be spoken like crap from anyone, but one particular character, deserves the abuse that they got on a daily basis. That person wouldn't change its attitude for the world and deserved the crap that they got from staff and passengers alike. It only spoke to me twice like crap before it got a full Leo star sign treatment.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

Everyone who works up at that airport deserves a gold medal. I did under different guises and different companies (Retail, catering then non) and airline so my fair share. Always found it painful working at the airport in terms of trying to get stuff done.

Certain, shall we call them characters, in security made the job impossible at times with their heavy handed power crazed personalities. No one deserves to be spoken like crap from anyone, but one particular character, deserves the abuse that they got on a daily basis. That person wouldn't change its attitude for the world and deserved the crap that they got from staff and passengers alike. It only spoke to me twice like crap before it got a full Leo star sign treatment.

Let's hope the airlines see it that way. They are going to be very annoyed if they have to start cancelling flights or operating them from other airports.

 

[White Heather]

Let's hope the airlines see it that way. They are going to be very annoyed if they have to start cancelling flights or operating them from other airports.

Why would they do that if less than 25% of the staff are involved? There will be long queues as there were in May/June but still sufficient staff to operate surely? Remember that the airport have over recruited, so have spare staff trained up.

 

[A400]

Let's hope the airlines see it that way. They are going to be very annoyed if they have to start cancelling flights or operating them from other airports.

It hasn’t happened so far and should stay that way.

 

[LBA787]

I’ve been keeping my ear close to the ground with this one.

Seems there’s a contingency to spilt the Jet2 LBA operation between NCL/EMA if operations cannot be maintained at Leeds.

Passengers will be busses to and from LBA then check in at either NCL or EMA. Aircraft, crews etc will operate into and out of those bases as best they can although ground handling will be limited so it’s expected delays will be common.

I have nothing further at this time but if I hear anything I’ll post it here.

Fingers crossed a resolution can be found.

 

[LBAYORKIE]

I’ve been keeping my ear close to the ground with this one.

Seems there’s a contingency to spilt the Jet2 LBA operation between NCL/EMA if operations cannot be maintained at Leeds.

Passengers will be busses to and from LBA then check in at either NCL or EMA. Aircraft, crews etc will operate into and out of those bases as best they can although ground handling will be limited so it’s expected delays will be common.

I have nothing further at this time but if I hear anything I’ll post it here.

Fingers crossed a resolution can be found.

Maybe they are assuming that non union staff will join the strike/refuse to cross the picket line. I wonder what our other airlines are planning?

 

[Sherburnflyer92]

@LBA787 I don't suspect they'll move the whole operation splitting between those two airports. That is a lot to ask for for those airports.

What I suspect more will happen is the shorter flights (Palmas, Alicantes) will be moved whilst the longer flights will be kept at LBA. So what could happen is 2/3 737-300's be moved to relive some of the pressure on the system.

As highlighted however elsewhere this is only a small % of staff striking in in the total work force so won't affect much. Moving a couple 300's elsewhere maybe the relief the airport want considering 2/3 operate 6 there and backs per day - mostly covering Palma, ibiza, Reus etc.

Happy to be proven wrong.

 

[Aviador]

Despite sympathising with the staff looking to strike, it's madness really. I mean we're all feeling the squeeze on the cost of living and if it starts impacting the number of flights these people will start losing their jobs anyway.